UK – Jo Sent Me

Lady at the Lake

What does a small hotelier do knowing that there is no real room for a spa proper, but also realising that guests may want a treatment or therapy…otherwise they may book elsewhere

The people at Gilpin Lodge nr Kendal in Cumbria, had a brave, but clever idea…they offered time as a spa treatment with their Jetty Spa Trail – three and a half hours of pleasure at the Lake House, an off-shoot of the main hotel, set in its own grounds and with its own private lake. The Lake House is in itself, a romantic retreat with just six bedrooms, all huge and spoiling, ideal for couples, who make up most of its occupants. And while anyone can lose themselves in the glory of the Lake District and have masses of time to themselves with great walks, hikes and boat rides…every so often people want something special

Well the Jetty Spa Trail is it.

It begins with one of the most impressive aromatherapy consultations I have had ( your chosen essence is then used in your massage and is given to you as a going away present of body cream, bath salts, spritzer and a pulse point roller), after which you can swim before having a salt scrub shower and sauna. Then it’s time to take the little jetty trail across to the spa for a massage or facial of your choice, and onto the Boat House for tea, and time to unwind and talk to your nearest and dearest without any interruption…or just simply relax in each other’s company. The finale is champagne and a hot tub – hopefully under the stars.

Zoe Cunliffe who runs the place with her husband knows how precious time is when you have a business and family…and suggests this as an easy way to have time out, some good champagne, fun…and fun in glorious surroundings.

Panic ye not – every so often the Lake Districts stuns the visitor and turns off the rain…at which point it is one of the most beautiful places in England

www.thegilpin.co.uk

Time to Fast

The third day of the #Grayshott programme is when we fast …but it’s just a semi fast. Finish supper the night before around 7.30 and no more food until the following lunchtime when some soup and a sald is served. That evening instead of supper the most delicious broth – although not enough of it. I pleaded with organiser, the glorious Elaine Williams, who says we can have seconds on our next fast day.

I don’t think I had been without food for that long in an age…but oddly enough it was no hardship. The only hunger pang I felt was immediately before lunch…but I am convinced that ws because I knew lunch was on the way…and I only had a smidge of a headache half way through the afternoon – nothing at all like I’ve had at other food deprivation retreats!

I’m not sure what the fast did to my tastebuds but I must admit that the sauerkraut at breakfast the following morning didn’t taste as ‘delicious’as usual…and was difficult to get through.

Back to normal for another couple of days and then one more fast before finishing the programme

The Grayshott Programme – day 1

It’s Grayshott’s newest programme so I arrived to test it in the freezing cold.

It’s basically a GUT CLEANSING affair and I’m fascinated to know how it differs from other similar programmes through diet, exercise, fasting and various massages and holistic therapies.

As with every visit to Grayshott, your stay begins with a visit to the nurse, and these nurses are seriously special. Most of them have been here since God was a girl, have seen it all, know almost everything there is to know about a body and so make everything seem like coming home. They reassure you with their knowledge and warmth…as Joanie did with me explaining that my blood pressure was normal for me, writing copious notes to everybody that they were NOT to tell me my weight (that’s something I don’t need to know, I know it too well from my side), and organising a hot water bottle for my bed. What’s not to love

This was followed by a consultation with Ravi about my fitness levels (or rather lack of them) before heading for the introductory lecture by a whirlwind of a nutritionist, Stephanie Moore who devised the prog with Grayshott’s resident angelic therapist Elaine Williams, and between them they appear to have banned most foods…in theory, if not in practice, for the supper following the lecture was delicious, it included steak(!) and filling.

Entertainment was even organised with the appearance of a glossy red fox streaking across the lawn. So far, so good, no headaches, no hunger and a huge amount of interesting information shared.

City Slicker

Hard to imagine that Edinburgh’s One Spa , the first serious city spa in the UK, is 10 years old. Can you imagine looking out over Edinburgh from the rooftop hydropool above – only the Castle has a more interesting view! I talked to them recently about the changes that have occurred over the last 10 years of spadom…and even in Scotland, that home of the dour and brave, men have taken to spas like the proverbial ducks to water. In fact they now make up a qaurter of the spa’s users and membership. However when guests are looking for something a little gentler and warmer the laconium looks golden and inviting.

To celebrate their birthday One Spa is introducing a new ESpa Enzyme Facial – which peels and plumps – wonder how that is going to go down with the guys?